University Daily Kansan / Thursday September 1, 1988 5 KU med school applicants down By Grace Hobson Kansan staff writer By Grace Hobson Out-of-state students are having an easier time getting into KU med schools because of a decline in the number of in-state applications, said Una Credible of the University of Kansas School of Medicine. The decline in Kansas students applying to meed school reflects a nationwide trend in decreasing meed school applications. As a result, schools across the nation are having to recruit harder, accept more out-of-state students and lower the class size. Creditor said declining applications to med schools had hit the Midwest hardest because of fewer young people in the region. This is true of KU, she said. Enrollment, however, has remained stable because the School of Medicine limits class size to about 175 students. Until 1986, the standard class size was 200. For example, in 1980, 371 Kansas residents applied for admission to KU's School of Medicine in Kansas City, Kan. and in Wichita. Last year, the Kansas residents applied, a drop of 145 from 1980. Creditor said reasons for the decrease in applications were four-fold. - Kansas has fewer 18 to 24-year-olds than 10 years ago, an effect of an aging baby-boom population. - Med school tuition has increased from $500 a year in the 1990s to $6,000 a year in 1998. - Some physicians are advising students not to hold belief due to the increasing costs of practices - Students are steering clear of the sciences to enter more lucrative fields that require less special training. Creditor said that although in-state applications had decreased, out-of-state applications had increased. In 1880, 502 non-Kansas residents applied, while last year applications jumped to 840. She attributed the increase in out-of-state applications to fewer available med school slots in other states. But KU is not necessarily happy with the recent trend in applications. "We give strong preference to in-state students. Creditor said, "Our mission is to educate Kansas." So to attract Kansas students to the medical field, schools are launching recruiting campaigns. The University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, said faculty and staff members would four high school students to interest them. "We are gathering a team together that will go around to high school with an exhibit and slide show." Our main focus will be to get high school students to attend college and enroll in a pre-med program; be Creditor said KU med schools had not reduced admission requirements to increase enrollment. "There is a very modest change in test scores and GPAs of students entering med school." Creditor said. "There is not a change in the quality of student going to med school." Although medical schools are seeing a decline in interest, the trend does not apply to all medical For example, KU's School of Allied Health and the school of Nursing are experiencing periods of growth. Rita Clifford, assistant dean of the school of nursing, said fierce recruiting and widespread media coverage of the increased demand for teachers in California has led to growth the school had from last year to this year. James Cooney Jr, dean of allied health, attributed the school's growth to the increase in salaries paid to medical workers, the mobility of the field and the health consciousness of our society. Adventure Travel student travel expels Book early and save! 544 California Drive (6th & Lawrence Ave.) 843-0946 Just Moved Enjoy smooth, creamy Frozen Yogurt -Free Samples- Southern Purchase Shopping Center Open: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Daily Noon-11 p.m. Sundays 93 NEW deli sandwiches delicious ice cream fine chocolates fresh popcorn homemade fudge SPECIAL STUDENT MEMBERSHIP READING FOR COMPREHENSION AND SPEED (Six hours of instruction.) OPEN 24HRS 50¢ WASH - RACQUETBALI - RACQUETBAH * LIVE AEROBICS * HEALTH EQUIPMENT ONLY AT INDEPENDENT LAUNDROMAT CORNER OF 9TH & MISSISSIPPI Tuesdays, September 6, 13, and 20 7 to 9 p.m. Register and pay $15 materials fee by 5:00 p.m. on September 6 at the Student Assistance Center, 121 Strong Hall. Class size limited. THURS. 10¢ DRAWS $4 Cover SAT. 25c Draws A CLUB FOR MEN AND WOMEN Private Parties Available FRIDAY 75c Draws 50c Shots 2500 W. 6th St 841-7230 Head Coach Glen Mason invites you to MEET ME AT THE STADIUM!